Why not very many 1xAAA multimode lights?

LED Flashlights – General Info 1 x AAA Flashlights
1

What I want: (seems simple to me)

Lumens: 1,3,10,30,100,300 (some simple logarithmic progression, with a low at 1 or less, highest at least 100)

UI: Deep press - on/off… shallow press - mode switch … no memory… start on lowest… no strobe… no PWM…

Form factor: very short, preferably side switch

Cost: under $20

Misc: li-ion compatible, ability to use alkaline or carbon zinc to zero volts, Nimh should be protected under 1V, shock protected (potted), waterproof, some kind of clip

Don’t need: thermal protection, magnet, zoom, charger, tail stand

Something like the BLF-348 would be ideal, even though it has a tail switch - why can’t it just have 3 or 4 modes

Are there just not ‘drivers’ that can easily do this?
Is it the small size, small current capability?

wle

2

Because most of the time people aren’t really interested in elaborate interfaces for their keyring light. KISS at work.
But if you need it, you can find/build a custom driver with desired modes and install it into your body of choice.

3

it wouldn’t be much more complicated than a lumintop AAA tool, with LMH sequencing and different modes….

i assume people are interested in that, i like it but it could be improved.

wle

4

I have a shoebox full of AAA lights. I wear one around my neck all the time due to being night manager at a chemical plant.

The closest to your needs that I know of is the Ultratac K18.

https://www.amazon.com/UltraTac-Powerful-Flashlight-Waterproof-Rechargeable/dp/B06XYYYL9Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1513114658&sr=8-2&keywords=k18

5

ok thanks but i’m looking for more modes than just ‘low-ish’ and ‘too high’ :slight_smile:

wle

6

The Nichia Tool does seem like a good starting point (although I do prefer lights that can tail stand).

I wonder how many orders it would take to get Lumintop interested in a BLF edition…

7

Personally I wouldn’t want an AAA light over a AA due to a huge difference in battery capacity.

8

1,3,10,30,100,300 would be a horrible driver …none of the modes would look any different than the last one . it would be tiresome and painfully dumb .
Believe me the original Eastward YJ-Y09 which was concieved by Mr admin .suffered this fatal flaw . it has a 1 lumen and a 8 lumen …both of which look exactly the same and it forces you to click twice just to get past a dumb mode that doesn’t need to be there .

I understand the concept but emitters are getting much more efficient these days and a lumintop tool on med is plenty of light most of the time. 3-4 hours on medium means it’s a pretty good little light to EDC.
The AAA lumintop tool with a NIMH battery is
only 25 grams .
Ti tool –30g
SS BLF-348 –35g.
copper tool –45g.
……………………
while a AA
zebralight H501-50g
Eagletac d25A ti –50g
$2- AA zoomie-50g
x=tar wk50-55g
klarus M-i7 55g
U torch UT 01 –65g

3 times the power or capacity but also double the weight …
* All weights above include a AAA or AA battery

9

Yes, 2 or 3 modes is the most I want on a AAA light. My favourite is the Astrolux A01, which has about 0.25, 7, and 90 lumens. All very useful.

BTW, can you even get 300 lumens out of a 1xAAA cell? I know it’s easy from a 1xAA light, but 1xAAA must be really pushing the battery’s capability.

10

K.I.S.S, that’s why :stuck_out_tongue:
because most daily use of aaa light is short-time using, so, runtime isn’t really matter, a little over brighter than you need doesnt kill runtime much
the only reason i need many mode flashlight is when i want to maximize the runtime( for example, a led consumes 1.5A maybe just 10% brighter to my eyes than a led consumes 1A , 10% is not that much, so i will use 1A mode)

11

astrolux s1 has 7 levels

with fast-touch level switching, i can get through them all in 2 seconds

{it isn’t a click, you just brush the switch and it changes instantly}

your ‘’1 and 8’’ lumen light - that must have been wrong, you can definitely see a change of 8x

12

if you could switch fast [like astrolux S1] then having a lot of levels is a good thing
it has 7, i can get through them all in under 2 sec
it even has ‘’go down one level’’ - which requires a long press - i never do that because i can go up 6 faster than i can go down 1

re 300 lumens - it is just an example, 10440 can do it

just my 2c

wle

13

Zanflare F3 comes close https://www.gearbest.com/led-flashlights/pp_858018.html but for the same size and weight you can go up to the Utorch UT01 with a AA .

14

yes that is my latest aliexpress order, has not come yet.
looks ok for AA and the $9.99

the zanflare is ok but could be smaller for AAA

wle

15

I have a habit of wanting to run my lights on high settings because I can.

The longer I can, the better. On a side note, I use a cheap Sipik sk68 as my daily EDC. To have the ability to use a 14500 or AA is highly valuable.

16

I carry a Factor Equipment Mizpah 130, but at just under $30, it’s not exactly budget.

It’s mode sequence is H-M-L-Strobe and has last mode memory - including strobe.

The modes are rare enough apart that there is obvious difference in brightness.

It’s got an optic and a large, floody hot spot with some spill.

It’s two-way clip is the best I’ve ever encountered - it will clip on thick brimmed hats securely and will always return to it’s original shape. The clip is the reason that I tolerate the L-M-H-S mode sequence.

I carry it clipped in my shirt pocket.

I’d love to have a 1xAAA zoomie with this clip.